Improvement  in raiiway



MMENPMY.

away aN MEMS.

No.V 134,298. Patented Dec,24,1872.

Witnesses ALMERON MGKENNEY, OF MAUMEE CITY, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAlLWAYeRAlL JOINTS.

Y Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Bt/3,999, dated December 24, 1872.

To all whom `it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMERON MCKENNEY, of Maumee City, in the county of Lucas and -in the State ot' Ohio, have invented certain l cation.

The object of my invention is to more perfectly support the joint between two adjoining railroad rails, by giving a direct vertical bearing on the supporting-plates instead of a lateral strain, as is the case where the said plates must rest upon slanting bearings under the head and on the foot ot the rail. In the latter case, which is the usual plan heretofore employed, when the weight of the train comes upon the joint the eiiect is to produce agreat strain upon the bolts by the wedging eti'ect on the plates caused by the downward pressure of the slanting head ot' the rail. Besides the great weight of the passing train when there is a little depression at the joint, every passing wheel gives a heavy blow, as of several tons weight falling a short distance, and crowding the plates apart, destroying the threads of the screws or setting them out of their proper angles, so that the nuts become loosened and cannot again be made to remain i tight when turned.

'Ihese dit'culties are entirely obviated by my invent-ion, which consists in providing the rails with an upper and lower groove, within which are iitted supporting-plates, which are held by clamp-bolts and locking-plates, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In vorder to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure lis a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a cross-section, of my railroad splice.

A A. represent the ends ot' two adjoining railroad rails. In the'under side ot' the head of the rail is formed a longitudinal groove, a, and in the upper side of the toot of the rail is formed another longitudinal groove, l). These grooves I have shown a trilie deeper on the inside next to the neck ot' the rail; but I do not desire to confine myselt' to any certain shape of said grooves, as any depression or cavity by which a projection is formed outside of the plates will answer the purposes to keep the plates from spreading outward. In the grooves a I) is placed the supporting-plate B, which grooves secure an inward pressure instead of an outward strain ofthe plates, leaving but very little for the iasteningbolts to do. The edges ot' the plates B should be made to correspond with the shape ot' said grooves.

By using two ot' the clamp-bolts patented by mein 1871, and the locking-plate herein described, a cheap, substantial, and reliable support to thejoint is formed, without the incumbre-nce ot' jam-nuts and nut-locks.

C O represent the said clamp bolts, which are constructed with a round shank, c, having a semi-spherical head, d, on one end, and a tlat semicircular head, j', on the other end. The head j' is passed through mortises in the rail and plate, and then turned around, which fastens the plate sufcient for all purposes. The two bolts O C are then locked by means of a plate, I), resting upon the foot ot the rail, and having notches in its upper edge to iit over the'heads. This plate is held in place by a spike, 71 which prevents it from slipping ott', and the plate avoids the possibility ot' the" clamp-bolts turning back and the joint becoming loosened. y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I cla-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with railroad rails having grooves or their equivalents formed in their heads and feet and supportingplates placed in said grooves, the clamp-bolts U G and locking-plate D, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereuntoset my hand this 22d day of' June, 1872.

. ALMERON MGKENNEY.

Witnesses:

A. N. MARR, C. L. Evitar, 

